Bryan: This cache has been archived at the request of the Oregon State University Research Forests Division.
Owner of the cache, we respectfully request that you please remove this cache as soon as possible.
The text of their request follows:
I have recently discovered that two geocaches have been located on McDonald
Research Forest in Benton County, Oregon. One is on Vineyard Mountain, the
other is beside Cronemiller Lake above Peavy Arboretum. I ask that you
remove these caches and not place any more on the Research Forest. Let me
give you some reasons.
Unlike national forests, state forests, etc, the missions of McDonald
Research Forest are teaching, demonstration and research. A fairly recent
poll of researchers revealed that 48% of the research sites had been
disturbed by people cutting across country. Of that 48%, 58% of the
researchers said the damage was moderate to severe with moderate being
defined as two months of data lost - severe defined as the study had to be
abandoned. To avoid these impacts, we have designated a network of trails
for people to use and we ask people to stay on the roads and trails, not to
wander through the forest.
Corvallis is a very progressive community that has considerable open space
and the citizens recently voted to approve a significant bond measure to
purchase additional open space. McDonald Research Forest isn't the only
available area for geocaches. I suggest that in the future, however, people
locating geocaches contact the landowners before locating the cache.
That said, however, we do have some areas within the Arboretum proper where
a geocache could possibly be located where resource and research impacts can
be avoided. I would be happy to talk with someone about these areas after
the current geocaches are removed.
Thank you in advance for removing the geocaches.
This cache archive listing has been submitted by:
bryan@geocaching.com